What is your focus? (A reflection on Ps 4)

Answer me when I pray, O God, my defender!
When I was in trouble, you helped me.
Be kind to me now and hear my prayer.
How long will you people insult me?
How long will you love what is worthless and go after what is false?
Remember that the Lord has chosen the righteous for his own,
and he hears me when I call to him.
Tremble with fear and stop sinning;
think deeply about this, when you lie in silence on your beds.
Offer the right sacrifices to the Lord, and put your trust in him.
There are many who pray: "Give us more blessings, O Lord.
Look on us with kindness!"
But the joy that you have given me is more
than they will ever have with all their grain and wine.
When I lie down, I go to sleep in peace;
you alone, O Lord, keep me perfectly safe.
Psalms 4

Every time I read the Psalms I realize how much I identify with David and how much I can learn from him! David was in the midst of some very difficult circumstances, but instead of being overwhelmed and fearful He called out to His God and rested in the knowledge that God could be trusted. David did not allow fear of his situation to overtake him, it easily could have. Instead he was able rest in peace knowing God would keep him perfectly safe.

So what can we learn? What can we apply from this to our own lives? First David prayed. How often do you and I got to others before going to God? We need to pray first thing when our circumstances begin to overwhelm us.

Second, David did not allow his mind to focus on what was going on around him. In verse 3 David begins to remind himself that God will hear him. Verse 4 says that David began to speak truth to himself when he says “Meditate in your heart“(NASB).

In the verses that follow David continues to focus on God and His goodness. He reminds himself of the truth he knows about God. David is able to lie down and sleep peacefully in the midst of a stressful situation because he focuses on God and His goodness, not on the circumstances themselves.

OH God, help us all to remember that when our circumstances, whatever they might be, begin to overwhelms us that we need our focus to be on you. Remind us of truth, help us to speak truth in our hearts. Remind us of what you have done in the past, how you have worked things out for our good and help us to focus on knowing that whatever we might be facing today you will again work it out for our good.

Today focus on God and His goodness in ALL things, not your circumstances.